Rallying Communities to Improve Their Stance Against Tobacco and Alcohol Use

Environmental approaches to substance abuse prevention

From 1993 to 1996, staff at the Marin Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems provided technical assistance, training and support to seven community coalitions seeking to change environmental norms and standards regarding use of alcohol and tobacco.

Each coalition prepared a plan of action for its own community, then tested a number of innovative strategies with assistance from the grantee. The coalitions included:

Key Results

The passage of a local ordinance regulating alcohol retailers in Oakland, Calif.

A reduction in liquor advertisements on billboards in Baltimore, Md.

The initiation of an alcohol-free, family-oriented First Night celebration in Eugene, Ore.

In addition to building capacity for future action by the seven coalitions and raising awareness of substance abuse in their localities, the project helped draw attention nationally to the need for coordinated local responses to substance abuse.